“We have met wonderful people, organic customers, being the change. It is hard to say how much we value these people that enable us to care for the Earth full time.”

Tell us about yourselves!

We are Stewart Seesink and Bee Winfield; We wander around planting, weeding and picking produce from our permaculture farm, which Bee began in 1985. We are on 27 acres here in Nannup.  We weren’t blessed with good soil, we have had to regenerate the soil to grow anything but the pioneer plants. It was totally cleared and infested with doublegees back then but is now a thriving food forest on the steep land and lush pastures on the flatter places. There are more than 100 species of fruit, nut and fodder tree here now, and many species of livestock: Jersey cows, sheep, alpaca, pigs, chooks, ducks, geese and most recently added, honey bees!

How did you come up with the name and ethos of your storefront?

Years ago, Bee had to name the farm, and chose Merri Bee Organic Farmacy because she believed food grown by Mother Nature is the most powerful medicine.  The name also indicates that this is a place where bees would be happy and healthy. Our vital pollinators are very sensitive to chemicals, and we have strictly avoided all, including fertilizers, for decades. 

More recently we minimized EMR here and moved to natural alternatives to cleaning and body care toxic products. We were certified organic with NASAA for 10 years, and still maintain all the standards for every enterprise, but found certification was not needed locally, nor was it well understood or respected.  We have chosen to stay small and local, open, and transparent instead of being certified. We have run dozens of soil courses here over the years, conducted many enjoyable tours for the visitors to Nannup Flower Festival, and as a permaculture teacher at Fair Harvest, Bee  has hosted many site visits.

What was the journey to supplying healthy food to your community look like?

Well, we have been doing this for 15 years, starting at Perth City Farm. Which we still attend monthly.  We have been attending Margaret River markets most weeks since 2012, when we bought our 50-acre grazing block in Karridale. Bee wanted to be an organic farmer at the age of 10, and has grown organic food for the family for 40 years. When the kids left home, the markets were the natural progression. Stewart has thrown himself into organic farming and many people are fed well thanks to his fitness, courage, and many talents.

Do you have connections with your customers and suppliers that run deeper than simply business?

Oh yes. As pioneers in both Permaculture and Organics in the South West WA, we have met wonderful people, organic customers, being the change. It is hard to say how much we value these people that enable us to care for the Earth full time. Some of our long-standing customers were suffering multiple health disorders when we first met them but over time, they have become not only healthy and happy, but our dear friends. Really, we would have retired if they would let us! Nothing is better than hearing folks say, "our kids would not eat eggs till they tasted yours".   It has been satisfying to hear innumerable people say that our meats are the best they have ever tasted once a lady came back after a meal at our food van to say she had just had a religious experience! Mums have sent us photos of their kids, thanking us for keeping them healthy and happy. Job satisfaction does not get better than that.

Has owning a business with its roots in health affected how you see health and food? If so in what way?

In 2013 we learnt from Dr Elaine Ingham, soil microbiologist, that soil can be grown! This course was a game changer. We learnt that animals, plants, and microbes evolved together to build soil, and soil runs the systems of our beautiful planet. We have gone on to teach the secrets of growing living soil to many gardeners and farmers. We know organic customers are taking the most efficient action on climate change possible.

Building upon this knowledge Bee took a course of study in 2020 to become a certified GAPS health coach. Hippocrates said 440 years BC that all health begins in the gut, and GAPS nutritional protocol is all about restoring a healthy gut microbiome. The correlations between soil health and human health are amazing, and both rely on the tiniest creatures we cannot even see!

Our farm, whilst regenerating fertile soil, manages pest, disease, and fertility problems by increasing diversity in the plant, animal, and microbial world. Bee coaches’ people to literally rebuild their body from these quality materials.